Acura/Honda and BMW lead contingency programs

ACURA/HONDA AND BMW LEAD MANUFACTURER CONTINGENCY PROGRAMS: Honda of America and BMW have announced their 2000 Speedvision World Challenge contingency programs. Acura/Honda leads all programs offering $14,500 cash for each race in both Speedvision Touring Car and Speedvision GT, broken down in $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $1,500 and $1,000 increments for the first- through fifth-place finishers. “We’re excited to again support our customers and the Speedvision World Challenge series,” said Ann Palmer, American Honda Motor Company. “Racing competition is very important to Honda and Acura, so offering this contingency program to our teams is a win-win situation for everyone involved.” Pierre Kleinubing has already reaped the benefits of the program as he carries a perfect season into Round Three this weekend, earning an additional $10,000 in Acura contingency over the first two events. Acura’s contribution has pushed the total per-race earnings for the Speedvision Touring Car winner past that of the Speedvision GT winner, which earns an additional $4,000 in per-race series purse. BMW will again support its privateer competitors in the Speedvision World Challenge in 2000, offering $10,500 per race, per class in contingency awards. Driving a BMW to a Speedvision GT or Touring Car win is good for another $4,000, with the remainder paid out at $3,000, $2,000, $1,000 and $500 for second through fifth, respectively. “We’re excited about the remainder of this year’s World Challenge season,” said Thomas Salkowsky, BMW M Brand Manager. “I am sure there will be some great battles on the racetrack.”

CORVETTE C5 DRIVERS GAIN SUPPORT THROUGH PARTS PROGRAM: Chevrolet’s Corvette racing division has renewed a unique program for 2000, rewarding and supporting teams campaigning its C5 with parts credits. While the only official posting per race is $1,750 (with a $1,000 credit going to the winner), the program offers a per-race Parts Support Program for drivers who finished in the top-10 in the 1999 standings ($2,000 each) as well as competitors who hope to crack the top-10 in 2000 (approximately $1,000 each). “We’re putting approximately $10,000 into the program each weekend in support of our teams,” said Jim Spaulding, GM motorsports. “We’re a close-knit bunch as well. If someone is down on their luck, we can provide a little more assistance to help turn that around. All told, over $100,000 is actually put into both programs throughout the season.”

ARUBA OFF, SERIES NEGOTIATING FINALE: With the announcement by the Sanchez Motorsports Group regarding the cancellation of the November 18-19 season finale weekend in Aruba, the Speedvision World Challenge is negotiating with another venue for a November date.

MENNEN TO DRIVE GRAND SPORTS SPEEDWAY C5 AT HOME TRACK: Terry Lackey has cut a deal with BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series star G.J. Mennen to drive the No. 04 Grand Sport Speedway Corvette C5 at Lime Rock Park this weekend. Mennen, a fellow Texan, has countless miles of experience on the circuit gained as an instructor with the Skip Barber Racing School and a driver in the Barber Dodge Pro Series. “I wanted to get G.J. in the car because he’s really good at Lime Rock—it’s kind of his home track,” said Lackey. “It’s an opportunity for us to see where we are with the development of the C5 because he’s a proven driver at the track.” Mennen finished 11th overall and second in the Rookie of the Year standings in 1999, recording his first-ever top-10 Trans-Am finish at Lime Rock Park. Lackey will drive the team’s No. 02 Corvette C4 in the event.

REALTIME RACING WINS THE MOSPORT APPEARANCE AWARD, TAKES SEASON LEAD: RealTime Racing earned the $500 bonus and three points toward the $10,000 year-end Speedvision Presentation Award for its appearance at the Mosport International Raceway Victoria Day Weekend, May 19-21. The team, which fields five Speedvision Touring Cars and one Speedvision GT car, led five teams which received votes (three of which received points), including Champion Audi, Hikari Racing, Turner Motorsports and Flying Tiger Racing. “In addition to the great uniforms and nice looking cars, the RealTime team made a real effort to keep their tent open and accessible to spectators throughout the weekend, despite the cold, and sometimes rainy weather,” said Alan Wilson, Speedvision World Challenge Development Coordinator. RealTime Racing now leads the season Presentation Award standings, with five points, followed by Hikari Racing (four) and Champion Racing (three).

TEAM TECH, E-SPORTS.COM JOIN FORCES FOR REMAINDER OF 2000 SEASON; MILLER TO DRIVE SECOND TEAM CAR: Team Tech Racing, which campaigns the No. 22 Valvoline/e-sports.com Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for rookie Scott Bove, has announced a new partnership with the website e-sports.com for the remainder of the 2000 season. With a growing collection of over 160 contributing columnists world wide, and hundreds of sites syndicating its content, e-sports.com is a leader in sports content syndication that goes beyond scores and statistics. e-sports.com is unique among its web cousins in that its editorial staff is culled from not only seasoned professionals, but also the fans themselves. This combination provides a unique approach to sports journalism, while maintaining a high level of journalistic standards. Beginning with this weekend’s race at Lime Rock Park, Bob Miller’s No. 23 At Speed Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will also be run out of the Team Tech Racing stable, with sponsorship coming from Ford Excursion, The Net Investor, and Auto Sportsystems Group. Miller, a Speedvision GT rookie, has experience in SCCA Club Racing, PCA, Barber Dodge and Jim Russell Racing.